Murder Conviction in Toddler’s Death Upheld By Appellate Court

Kenneth Stahli was convicted of bludgeoning a 2-year-old boy in August of 2014. The June 2015 conviction was appealed by Stahli in which he claimed that the evidence presented was not consistent with the verdict and the sentence of 25 years to life was excessive. The Appellate Division, Third Department unanimously voted to uphold the conviction.

Stahli's legal troubles started when the victim's aunt found the unresponsive boy on August 5, 2014. A police investigation determined that Stahli was the boy's primary daytime care provider and had inflicted multiple blunt force traumas upon the child, including more than 80 visible bruises. The medical examiner also found internal injuries to the boy's eyes, brain and spine. The cause of death was determined to be internal bleeding resulting from a lacerated liver and pancreas.

Stahli's conviction, according to Ulster County District Attorney Holley Carnright, was handed down in Ulster County Court on June 4, 2015.